Benefits - HELP ? DLA, Housing & Council Tax ?

lazicat
lazicat Member Posts: 177
edited 11. Jul 2012, 15:39 in Living with Arthritis archive
Ive been awarded high rate DLA Mobility & Care , applied in January & took several weeks to go through, as these claims take ages.
I told my Council I was claiming & they said to let them know when I got it, as I would be able to claim Housing Benefit & Concil Tax Benefit.
I did that as soon as it was awarded , asking them to back date it to January when my DLA was paid from.
They have replied that they will pay HB & CT from date I applied & not from January , as they dont think I have a good cause for back dating it. I dont know how I could of applied earler as I had to wait to see if I was awarded DLA at all. Surely this cannot be right !!
Can anyone help me with how to get this point accross or had a similar thing ?
Has anyone had HB & CT Benefits granted from date DLA was awarded ?
Any advice would be greatly appriciated.

Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,027
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Gosh Lazicat

    that does sound a bit mean as I bet it would help a LOT!

    I expect you can appeal this decison and state that you were told to apply IF you got the DLA therefore it was their error adding that you were clearly eligible from January, but I think in your shoes I would still make a quick call to CAB or DIAL first incase they can help?

    Love and luck

    Toni xxx
  • Folara
    Folara Member Posts: 568
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Definately appeal the decision. If you have any evidence that they told you they would pay from when you are awarded DLA? If you do, send a copy of this with a copy of your award letter so they can see you have been awarded from January. In theory they should backdate by 3 months or to the date of the award, whichever is the least, so in your case 3 months. Unfortunately most of these councils are a law unto themselves.

    Don't forget to get your local MP involved too. You can find their email addresses on line. Make sure you tell them everything and that you were told they would pay from the date of award too.

    Fols x

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